Mercedes Benz Fashion Week kicked off in New York City today.
For the next few days, the tents at Bryant Park will be a haven for fashionistas, with the world's top designers gathering to show their wares to some of the globe's most discerning fashion journalists and A-list celebrities.
The event runs from February 1-8 and will showcase the Fall 2008 collections.
On February 1, the beautiful white tents housed the glamorous trends of world-renowned designers, starting with Nautica at 9 a.m. Following, in order, was The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2008, Perry Ellis, Yigal Azrouel, Duckie Brown, Rubin Singer, BCBG Maxazria, Yeohlee, Nicole Miller and ending with Erin Fetherston's 7 p.m. show.
The highlight had to be the Red Dress collection; Heart Truth is a campaign for women affected by heart disease. The Red Dress has, over the last years, become the national symbol for heart disease, and supporters are asked to wear red on February 1. The event brought in celebrities like Heidi Klum, Ashanti, Lisa Rinna, Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy) and first lady Laura Bush.
Nautica was a menswear's how and focused on a colour palette of black, white, yellow, cobalt blue and splashes of red. The collection consisted mostly of blazers, peacoats and scarves and created an interesting combination of business wear with a sporty twist.
BCBG had a fantastic soundtrack to support the models who sashayed in beautiful flowing gowns. The emphasis was on the silhouette, with cinched waists. The staple in almost every week was a belt tied simply in the middle creating a bow-like appearance. Some outfits had intense hourglass shapes as they were enhanced further big floppy collars. Later in the show, several pantsuits were shown, all focusing on a very slender profile. The mini also made a return in both skirts and dresses, but despite the lack of length, the designs still looked put together and not overly risque. The colour palette was for the most part neutral. The eyes were smoky, the lips were pale, and hair was pulled back.
More photos and video coverage of all collections can be seen at the official Mercedes Benz Fashion Week site.
New York Fashion Week 2008 Coverage
Day 1
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Fashion Week Shows - Opportunity for fashion industry to provide a sustainable and accessible alternative to physical shows.
2. Interactive Fashion Showcases - Innovative experiences for fashion enthusiasts and industry players using virtual and augmented reality technologies.
3. Sustainable Fashion Collections - Demand for more eco-friendly fashion options encourages designers and brands to offer sustainable alternatives to their regular collections.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Industry - Opportunity to explore new ways to showcase their collections and innovate their designs with technology to meet changing consumer expectations.
2. Technology Industry - Increasing demand for virtual and augmented reality experiences in fashion shows creates new opportunities for technology providers.
3. Sustainability Industry - Opportunity to collaborate with fashion designers and brands to develop sustainable practices and materials for the industry.